September is the most dangerous month for Atlantic and Gulf coast hurricanes. As 2009's fifth named storm, Erika, forms in the Atlantic, those who are vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes are reminded that preparations are necessary to protect plants from wind damage.
Any gardener who has been through a devastating major hurricane, such as Charley or Katrina, can attest to the fact that losing all a homes's precious landscaping can hurt as much as losing the house itself. Years of tender loving care can be swept away in an instant, leaving the owner with a bare lot and a broken heart.
But is there anything that can actually be done to prevent or mitigate the losses? If a category 4 or 5 hurricane is bearing down on the area, it becomes a matter of saving human life, and not worrying too much about property; however, with a lesser hurricane or tropical storm, there are steps that can be taken that may protect plants from wind damage.
Cut Back Shrubbery and Trees
Most wind damage is caused because the wind has something to tear apart. Top-heavy trees with thick canopies are the first to go. Thick, lush shrubbery is beautiful, but it is much more likely to be uprooted by wind.
Cut as much foliage off of plants as possible, even to the point of only having bare sticks standing where shrubbery and trees used to be. The wind will blow around these branches, because there is nothing to resist it, and most of the time, the plant will remain rooted in the ground. Leaves grow back, but once a plant is uprooted, its future existence is questionable.
Dig and Remove Plants if Possible and Bring Indoors
To protect smaller plants from wind damage, they can be dug, potted, or simply have their roots wrapped, and brought into shelter in the house or garage. Houses in Florida and Gulf states sometimes resemble a tropical jungle during storms. Tropical gardeners grow many vulnerable plants in containers so that they can be moved indoors quickly during dangerous weather.
Before hurricane season even begins, make sure there are places for these plants inside or in a sheltered place, like a garage. Preparing ahead will save a lot of time when the storm is actually approaching.
Collecting buckets or other containers to hold water will allow bare rooted plants to be kept indoors without having to be planted. Several smaller plants can be placed in one bucket or other container.
Take Cuttings of Plants that Cannot be Removed
If a plant is too large to move or will not withstand a severe pruning, take several cuttings and place in water to be potted and rooted later if the plant is destroyed. Starting from scratch is better than losing the plant completely.
Wrap Plants to Make Them More Aerodynamic
There are some plants that can't be dug, trimmed, or have cuttings taken from, such as small citrus trees. To protect these plants from wind damage, the only thing that can be done is to make them more aerodynamic so that the wind will try to go around them instead of tearing them up. Some of these smaller trees can be tightly wrapped in blankets or landscape cloth, which is securely attached with duct tape. Some limbs may be bent or broken in the process, but the wind will have much less resistance, and the tree may just make it through without being uprooted.
Warning: Do not use plastic to wrap these trees unless there is nothing else. If plastic is used, remove it as soon as the storm has passed. Leaving a plant wrapped in plastic can actually "cook" the plant very quickly once the sun is out.
Move Plants Up Against the House
If all else fails, and there just is no more room in a sheltered place, move potted plants as close to the house as possible, packing them tightly together, and cover them completely with a tarp secured to the ground. Since hurricanes turn in a counter-clockwise direction, the wind will be coming from the south or east, so a northern or western wall is best if at all possible. This may actually form a wind barrier that will save them.
Preparing a yard for a storm is hard work, but well worth it in terms of stress and money if established plants can be saved from destruction.
BNC101
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